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Determine the immunological and clinical responses in this patient population after this therapy.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study.

Patients undergo leukapheresis between days -14 to -8. Mononuclear cells are isolated, used to generate dendritic cells (DC), and then pulsed with MART-1 peptide. Patients are vaccinated with MART-1 peptide-pulsed DC either IV or intradermally on days 0, 14, and 28.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of MART-1 peptide-pulsed DC until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.

Patients are followed until death.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 18-24 patients will be accrued for this study.

Number DC: dependent on the group route of immunization: dependent on the group subjects will receive 3 biweekly vaccinations. In case of grade III-IV toxicity in 1/3 subjects at any dose group or route, up to 6 subjects will be included in that group.

Procedure: leukapheresis

Patients require a single leukapheresis to obtain 2x10^9 PBL, which are cryopreserved in RPMI 1640, 20% autologous serum, 10% DMSO. Aliquots are thawed at days -7, 7 and 21 for the first, second, and third immunizations respectively. Blood is drawn at the time of leukapheresis and on the day of the first vaccination for autologous serum, which is sufficient for the cell cultures of all patient groups.

Experimental: Group B

No. DC: 10^5 Route of Immunization: IV

Biological: dendritic cell-MART-1 peptide vaccine

Number DC: dependent on the group route of immunization: dependent on the group subjects will receive 3 biweekly vaccinations. In case of grade III-IV toxicity in 1/3 subjects at any dose group or route, up to 6 subjects will be included in that group.

Procedure: leukapheresis

Patients require a single leukapheresis to obtain 2x10^9 PBL, which are cryopreserved in RPMI 1640, 20% autologous serum, 10% DMSO. Aliquots are thawed at days -7, 7 and 21 for the first, second, and third immunizations respectively. Blood is drawn at the time of leukapheresis and on the day of the first vaccination for autologous serum, which is sufficient for the cell cultures of all patient groups.

Experimental: Group C

No. DC: 10^6 Route of Immunization: ID

Biological: dendritic cell-MART-1 peptide vaccine

Number DC: dependent on the group route of immunization: dependent on the group subjects will receive 3 biweekly vaccinations. In case of grade III-IV toxicity in 1/3 subjects at any dose group or route, up to 6 subjects will be included in that group.

Procedure: leukapheresis

Patients require a single leukapheresis to obtain 2x10^9 PBL, which are cryopreserved in RPMI 1640, 20% autologous serum, 10% DMSO. Aliquots are thawed at days -7, 7 and 21 for the first, second, and third immunizations respectively. Blood is drawn at the time of leukapheresis and on the day of the first vaccination for autologous serum, which is sufficient for the cell cultures of all patient groups.

Experimental: Group D

No. DC: 10^6 Route of Immunization: IV

Biological: dendritic cell-MART-1 peptide vaccine

Number DC: dependent on the group route of immunization: dependent on the group subjects will receive 3 biweekly vaccinations. In case of grade III-IV toxicity in 1/3 subjects at any dose group or route, up to 6 subjects will be included in that group.

Procedure: leukapheresis

Patients require a single leukapheresis to obtain 2x10^9 PBL, which are cryopreserved in RPMI 1640, 20% autologous serum, 10% DMSO. Aliquots are thawed at days -7, 7 and 21 for the first, second, and third immunizations respectively. Blood is drawn at the time of leukapheresis and on the day of the first vaccination for autologous serum, which is sufficient for the cell cultures of all patient groups.

Experimental: Group E

No. DC: 10^7 Route of Immunization: ID

Biological: dendritic cell-MART-1 peptide vaccine

Number DC: dependent on the group route of immunization: dependent on the group subjects will receive 3 biweekly vaccinations. In case of grade III-IV toxicity in 1/3 subjects at any dose group or route, up to 6 subjects will be included in that group.

Procedure: leukapheresis

Patients require a single leukapheresis to obtain 2x10^9 PBL, which are cryopreserved in RPMI 1640, 20% autologous serum, 10% DMSO. Aliquots are thawed at days -7, 7 and 21 for the first, second, and third immunizations respectively. Blood is drawn at the time of leukapheresis and on the day of the first vaccination for autologous serum, which is sufficient for the cell cultures of all patient groups.

Experimental: Group F

No. DC: 10^7 Route of Immunization: IV

Biological: dendritic cell-MART-1 peptide vaccine

Number DC: dependent on the group route of immunization: dependent on the group subjects will receive 3 biweekly vaccinations. In case of grade III-IV toxicity in 1/3 subjects at any dose group or route, up to 6 subjects will be included in that group.

Procedure: leukapheresis

Patients require a single leukapheresis to obtain 2x10^9 PBL, which are cryopreserved in RPMI 1640, 20% autologous serum, 10% DMSO. Aliquots are thawed at days -7, 7 and 21 for the first, second, and third immunizations respectively. Blood is drawn at the time of leukapheresis and on the day of the first vaccination for autologous serum, which is sufficient for the cell cultures of all patient groups.

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Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Adults over the age of 18 with malignant melanoma.

HLA-A2.1 positive and express MART-1, as assessed by either RT-PCR or by immunohistochemistry

Tumor stages T3N0M0 or greater are eligible for this trial according to the following:

Patients previously treated with any form of therapy for either metastatic, relapsed or primary melanoma are eligible for this trial, provided that previous treatment was completed >30 days prior to enrollment

Both male and females may be enrolled. Premenopausal females must have a negative pregnancy test prior to treatment

Karnofsky Performance Status greater than or equal to 70 percent

No previous evidence of class 3 or greater New York Heart Association cardiac insufficiency or coronary artery disease

No previous evidence of opportunistic infection

A minimum of 30 days must have elapsed since the completion of prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy

Adequate baseline hematological function as assessed by the following laboratory values within 30 days prior to study entry (day -30 to 0):